Snowflake Lane

On Sunday, we had a yummy dinner at the Warme's and then headed to Snowflake Lane. It's a pretty great show, and even better when you have little kids to watch enjoy the music, snow, and lollipops! Andy was grooving to the drums and music the whole time and the Warme kids were wide-eyed and excited.

Waiting for the show to start

Rudolf!

Dancing to the music

Maggie havin' fun

Miller taking it all in

Mags so excited - with lollipop in mouth

Masin enjoying the view from Bapa's shoulders and using his head as a drum

Masin intrigued

Maggie playing with Ka

Bets and her girls (notice the lollipops in every picture)

Masin covering her ears - the drummers were coming

Ka and Bapa with Andy

Family Picture - don't look so excited Andy : )

and my favorite picture from the night - so happy!

Santa!

We went downtown to take Santa pictures and waited in a 2 1/2 hour line to see Santa. Call us crazy...but once we start a tradition...it's hard to change. Kyle and I took turns in line and got some Christmas shopping done. Andy was a trooper, but didn't really know what to think of Santa.

Waiting in line outside...brrr

Happy guy! I think he just had some hot cider : )

and a cookie

2 hours later - we're up next to see Santa. Andy definitely checking out the scene

Andy still checking things out...not sure what to think of that Santa

Clutching tightly to Santa's beard...looking overwhelmed

All done!

Daddy making Andy smile

Santa looking at me...okay, he's done

One last obligatory smile from Andy

Family picture - Andy looks SO happy!

First Hair Cut

We finally went to get Andy his first "real" hair cut at Dooz on Mercer Island. I have cut it a couple of times, but in the process, I have created some nice chunks in his hair. Although his hair doesn't look much different after the haircut, it was nice to get his "mullet" cleaned up. Andy was NOT a happy camper. From the second we put him in the chair he was a very grumpy boy. Kyle and I just had to laugh - but Andy was not enjoying his first hair cut.

Kyle getting Andy settled into the chair...the lower lip is coming out

This looks like torture!

The chair didn't last long, Kyle had to hold Andy to get him to stop squirming

Trying to avoid the hair cut lady as much as possible by burrowing into Kyle

MOM! Stop taking pictures and SAVE ME

Almost done, one last chunk to cut...

Kyle having to lock him down to get that last piece....phew!

16 Months

Andy is now 16 months old! He is walking about 50% of the time, but is quite the efficient crawler, so I don't blame him for still using that mode of transportation. When he walks, he looks like he's had a few drinks as he stumbles forward and backwards...very entertaining to watch. Sometimes when he's walked across the room, he'll look back to check if we have been watching and will clap and laugh. I guess that shows that we have been encouraging him to walk - huh? Andy also is building on his own little language. He will have little conversations with us - most of the time in jibberish. He looks at you with the most sincere and serious look on his face as if he truly is talking to you - I look forward to the day when we will know what all the jumbled words really mean. He does have some favorite words right now - ba-ba is by far the most used...when he's hungry or wants his milk. Otherwise, he uses "no" quite a bit - usually when referring to Henry. I guess we say no to Henry a lot - especially around Andy. He also says 'dat' when pointing to things - and says "bawl" for ball. His vocabulary is mostly mimicking whatever we say - he points at airplanes and says - "pane" and when we say, I love you, he says "uv wu". He loves blowing kisses and waving bye and makes all sorts of clicking, buzzing noises with his mouth. He loves shoes and socks and gets very excited when we put them on. If he finds Kyle's or my shoes around the house, he tries to put those on as well. He still is quite the sleeper - going to bed around 8:30 and waking up between 8 and 10 AM. His temperament is still mellow - especially when he gets in large groups. He likes to sit back and observe and take everything in. Although he generally is mellow - he definitely has a stubborn, curious, determined side to him...not sure where he got that :) Andy will climb, bite, poke, grab, throw anything he can get his hands on. Poor Henry, the other night, Andy was doing his typical crawl over Henry routine and he leaned down and took a big bite out of Henry's side. Usually Henry puts up with Andy's pulling, tugging, poking - but he let out a big yelp when Andy took a bite out of him. I don't blame him! Our house is baby-proofed to the fullest with 6 gates and rubber bands keeping all of our drawers together. It's amazing how quickly a 16 month old can turn a perfectly clean kitchen into a disaster zone. Andy had his first major fever and cold this month, but otherwise he is a healthy and happy guy. He definitely keeps us on our toes...busier by the day.

Apple Cup

Kyle, Andy and I went to Apple Cup this year. It was a COLD one - but a great game! Sadly, Apple Cup was the ONLY game that I went to this year - which definitely makes the record books for me. It was fun having Andy there and he was a trooper - tailgating, napping during the game on our laps, and even lasting through dinner after the game with friends. Plus - Lindsey and Emily were up from SF for the weekend - and it was great to see them!

Below is a picture of some of the gamma phi girls: Ali, Bekah, Car, Esh, Cadera, Linds and me. Tailgating with Andy strapped to me was a little different than my college days...but we still had a great time.

Candy Cane Lane - 2009

We continued on with Thanksgiving weekend by heading out to Candy Cane Lane on Friday. I guess it hasn't actually been called "Candy Cane Lane" for awhile, but I continue to call it that since that is what I grew up knowing it as. We met the Lentz Family and both picked out the "perfect tree". Kyle makes fun of me because I always want to go for the 10-12 foot trees, and he has to remind me that they won't quite fit into our house. We settled on a good one and it's up and decorated and smells great. It was fun seeing Callie and Robbie with Santa and enjoying the tradition with the Lentz family!

In the back of the truck - getting ready for the search!

Nick all bundled up! Robbie inspecting the tree with great detail The Lentz tree! Timber!! The Graebner Tree Kyle chopping down the tree while Robbie approves Taking care of Andy Andy hanging out... Having some fun... Trees chopped down...now time for some cider and cookies

And Santa, of course! Callie intently telling Santa what she wants for Christmas.

Robbie, not so sure

The Lentz crew with Santa

Back to the car we go...

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving weekend flew by - but it was a fun long weekend! We started Thankgiving day by decorating for Christmas and then enjoyed the evening by celebrating with the Anderson Family. As usual, the food was great and it was fun to spend time with family. After dinner, Andy's buddy Ellis turned into a Turkey - which was adorable!